From that time on, the world was hers for the reading....

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Yvonne Prinz: The Vinyl Princess

I requested a copy of The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz from my local library the minute it was released. They finally contacted me to let me know I could pick it up last week!

Synopsis:Summer is here, and 16-year-old Allie, a self-professed music geek, is exactly where she wants to be: working full-time at Berkeley’s ultra-cool Bob and Bob Records. There, Allie can spend her days bantering with the street people, talking the talk with the staff, shepherding the uncool bridge-and-tunnel shoppers, all the while blissfully surrounded by music, music, music. It’s the perfect setup for her to develop her secret identity as The Vinyl Princess, author of both a brand-new zine and blog. From the safety of her favorite place on earth, Allie is poised to have it all: love, music and blogging.

Her mother, though, is actually the one getting the dates, and business at Allie’s beloved record store is becoming dangerously slow--not to mention that there have been a string of robberies in the neighbourhood. At least her blog seems to be gaining interest, one vinyl junkie at a time....

Reading The Vinyl Princess brought back a lot of memories. My Dad was a DJ with an impressive vinyl collection. Music was our world. I remember traveling to record conventions at local civic centers and hotels, pouring through vinyl old and new. Dad and I also made many trips to Main Street Records in Northampton, MA to look for vinyl to add to our collection. I remember walking down the tiny stairway to the basement area to find the latest imports.

When I graduated from college, it was no surprise that I gravitated toward a career in music. Up until last year, I happily marketed music; working for major record labels and eclectic marketing companies. I've watched the industry slowly fall apart due to illegal downloading. I lost my job due to budget cuts brought on by illegal downloading.

Needless to say, I felt a personal connection to the story and characters. Allie and I would have a lot to talk about.

If you're a music lover, this book is a must-read. Allie's blogs and commentary on music are not only entertaining, but incredibly informative. I actually made note of some songs I'd like to track down--I'm willing to bet my Dad owns the vinyl.

If you'd just like to read a good story filled with colorful characters, friendship, and love, this book is a must-read.